Satanism and Conscientious Objection

[octavius]

For your consideration:

It doesn’t take a reactionary Evangelical Christian or Left-Wing conspiracy theorist to postulate that the world is more dangerous today than it has been in some time. Political lines are deeply divided across the world and fanatical devotion to Religion is rampant among Jews, Christians, and Muslims. This fanaticism and political absolutism has given rise to violent demonstrations and acts of war. The lines between religion and politics are blurring and if left unchecked will certainly lead us into a new era of Crusades and Jihads that we have already laid the groundwork for. The results could be disastrous. In the Iraq War alone, we have already surpassed the individual death tolls of the US Civil War, The Gulf War, and the combined atomic attacks on Japan in WWII.

The history, interpretations, and provocation of what may have led to the 9/11 attacks are debatable. The fact remains that the American public were told by President George W. Bush that Islamic fundamentalists perpetrated these acts of terror to try and destroy our way of life and our freedom. Americans were in the throes of disbelief, sadness, and shock but Bush’s speech on the evening of 9/11/01 did little to comfort a grieving nation. Instead, his speech was laced with propagandist rhetoric about American strength, resolve, and the undeniable reality that the US would not let these actions go unpunished.

I believe that humanity as a whole is nearing a crux of global proportions, and I have seen that the impending possibility of global war is being welcomed by many. Christians, Jews and Muslims see us at the doorway of the Apocalypse and find joy in the coming of the Rapture, the Antichrist, and the second coming of Christ. There are different interpretations depending on the religion, but you cannot escape the fact that world events like 9/11, Globalism, and natural disasters are being interpreted as precursors to the prophesized end times.

In the past, Satanism has been clear in its resolve to punish those who take up violence against its adherents. We reserve the right to defend ourselves, our property, and our loved ones with fierce determination. Some Satanists answered the call to arms and are now serving multiple tours in the ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. One might assume that Satanists would be the first to answer such a call to arms given the public’s (mis)conception that Satanists are naturally disposed to violence. However, does the Satanic tenet of appropriate reactionary violence apply to the War on Terror? Or do we look inward and make the choice based on our own individual conscience?

I’ve been a Conscientious Objector since I was a kid. I’ve never believed in war as a reasonable means of conflict resolution. I believe that the “collateral damage” of innocent lives is unethical and unnecessary. As I came into my own affiliation with Satanism, I’ve asked myself how I can justify some forms of violence with being a devout Conscientious Objector. The answer was appallingly simple to me. Violence in itself is a coward’s answer to a problem they are not intelligent enough to resolve through other means. This is not to say that diplomacy is the answer to everything, but all too often the world looks at conflict through the absolutes of War vs. Diplomacy. There is no room for compromise in a world of absolutes so we must become cunning and wage a war of our own on terms never before seen against the perpetrators of violence.

In order to avoid the warmongers and being forced to participate in their violence, one must prepare their status as a Conscientious Objector carefully, and from a young age if possible. It starts with your application for a Social Security number, and, for men, registration with Selective Service. When I turned 18 and had to register for Selective Service, I wrote in the margins of the document, “I am a Conscientious Objector and will refuse to participate in any aspect of war.” (Naturally, they don’t leave you space to write this on the form, so use any blank space you can find on the face of the document. This is completely legal, and you need not fear any reprisal from Selective Service or the government employee taking your registration.) I also registered with a national organization that has my statement of objection on file. I have close friends who I asked to be witnesses to my status as a Conscientious Objector should I ever have to prove it in court. These witnesses should not be immediate family members. I have a Catholic Priest, a College Professor, and several friends I’ve known for over 15 years who are on my list of willing witnesses. The higher in stature your witnesses, the better chance you will have of wining should your status be brought to question in court.

But does being a Conscientious Objector require that you renounce all forms of violence? Not at all. If a burglar were to enter my home, I wouldn’t think twice about using any and all means at my disposal to protect my home and my family, including violence. Is this contrary to the philosophy of a Conscientious Objector? Hardly. If my immediate property, person, or family is in imminent danger of harm, I have a right afforded me by the US Constitution to defend myself, my property, and my family. War has nothing to do with my personal property or my family, and until someone threatens it, I refuse to involve myself in a conflict I have no stake in.

Having said that, one could certainly argue (and this has been a common retort from the warmongering community for years) that if the country which provides you your freedom is in danger, is not your property and family potentially in danger as well? Do I not then have an obligation to fight for the freedom I have? No. Not until my personal property of family is in imminent danger. Not until soldiers are marching up my driveway. And even then, I’m not participating in a war…I’m defending myself, my family, and my property.

Octavius

[Spiritgeek]

Originally Posted by octavius

But does being a Conscientious Objector require that you renounce all forms of violence? Not at all. If a burglar were to enter my home, I wouldn’t think twice about using any and all means at my disposal to protect my home and my family, including violence. Is this contrary to the philosophy of a Conscientious Objector? Hardly. If my immediate property, person, or family is in imminent danger of harm, I have a right afforded me by the US Constitution to defend myself, my property, and my family. War has nothing to do with my personal property or my family, and until someone threatens it, I refuse to involve myself in a conflict I have no stake in.

Having said that, one could certainly argue (and this has been a common retort from the warmongering community for years) that if the country which provides you your freedom is in danger, is not your property and family potentially in danger as well? Do I not then have an obligation to fight for the freedom I have? No. Not until my personal property of family is in imminent danger. Not until soldiers are marching up my driveway. And even then, I’m not participating in a war…I’m defending myself, my family, and my property.

I remember doing the same thing back in the era of Ronnie Ray-gun and his re-establishment of "Selective Service" registration. I turned 18 in 1983 and we were quite afraid that we were headed into a war similar to what we are seeing in Iraq. Almost immediately I started working on my Conscientious Objector file in case things went downhill.

You may have some difficulty in what you have said above as one of the questions that we were warned to be ready for was along the lines of what you said above. "If your sister was being raped by an invading soldier, would you pick-up a gun an shoot them?"

Maybe the rules have changed over the years, but we were told that if we answered in the affirmative to the question that we were likely to be taken and likely to either be imprisoned for failure to lift a weapon in training or put into the medical corp against our will. The other military professions were likely to be off-limits since we are being drafted for a "war" not enlisting before.

Just a thought...

[vivamis123]

Octavius,
I understand where you are coming from: not wanting to participate in a war, yet you would defend your family. I feel the same way, but would extend the defending to those in need, that are brought to my attention. What is you perspective on that?

[octavius]

Defending "those in need?" No. I would not. In my opinion, it is up to each individual to provide for their own defense. Certainly, there are unfortunate people all over the world who live under regimes where they are made to suffer. I am empathetic towards them, but don't see why I should be responsible for defending them. In doing so, I'd have to make myself some kind of global police man...and in doing that, what would possibly give me the right to police the world under my concept of right and wrong? It most certainly wouldn't agree with everyone.

Octavius

[vivamis123]

Maybe I was not clear enough in my post. I meant if you were walking down the street and you see someone getting bit by a dog, do you help? Or a child gets beaten, a woman gets raped. I mean if it is right infront of you. Do you extend protection/help to someone other than your family, if it is right infront of you? And if not, what do you do? Take no thought, look the other way, pray, ignor, watch, with other words how do you react?

[octavius]

You and I can list thousands of possible scenarios. There is simply no singular answer I can give that would apply to every one of them. If I was in a dominatrix's shop and saw a man getting painfully beaten, I'd leave him be. If I saw a mugging going on, I'd call 911. If I saw a rape in progress, I'd likely incapacitate the perp, especially if my wife was involved.

There is no single answer. I would be willing to bet that there is no single answer for most of us. Sorry.

Octavius

[vivamis123]

Thank You Octavius, for your answer. I just wanted to know how your beliefs apply to daily life situations that we all encounter : )